Fastening device



March 26, 1 940. o, A, BERMAN 2,195,385

FASTENING DEVICE Filed June' 15. 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FASTENING DEVICE.

Filed June 13, 1938 2 t -Sheet 2 III/.Iflllll/IIIIIIIIIII, r

Patented Mar. 26, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,195,385 FASTENING DEVICE Application June 13, 1938, Serial No. 213,383

.21 Claims.

This invention relates to fastening-devices for closures, particularly closures in garments, apparel and accessories, also in purses, bags, briefcases, pouches, and containers of all kinds.

This application is a continuation in part of applicants application No. 115,073 in so far as that application disclosed a diagonal construction of the tape forming the edges of the closure over which the fastening means slide.

Among the objects of, the present invention are the following:

1. To provide a means for maintaining the walls of a closure in an interfolded and interlocked position between the clips when they are spread apart, but permit the edges of the extremities of the walls of the closure to be separated when the clips are bunched together at one end thereof.

2. To provide a plurality of clips, the walls of which will slide between the interfolding walls of the material to which they are applied, closing and opening if moved in one direction, and opening a closure if, moved in the opposite direction.

3. To provide a clip that can be made of a single piece of sheet metal or other material folded 5 back and forth upon itself, or that can be molded of metal, plastic material or other substance or that can be formed by cutting a continuous groove of the proper shape and form in a block' of metal, plastic material or other substance ca- 1pable of being made ornamental and decora- 4. To provide a method for accomplishing the aforesaid objects and the following objects through the use of stringers comprising four 5 beads, two beads, or no @ads at all.

5. To accomplish the aforesaid and following objects in a closure, one end of which is adapted to be completely separable as in the front opening of a 'womans dress, or in the fly of a pair 40 of trousers; or in a closure neither end'of which is to be completely separable, as in a placket or side opening in a womans dress near the waist- 6. To accomplish the aforesaid and following objects economically, efficiently and simply by providing a clip made of. one piece, with no other parts.

'7. To accomplish the aforesaid and following objects with the use of comparatively few units that present no pointed vor rough edges to catch foreign matter likely to clog or jam the parts and interfere with their smooth operation.

8. To accomplish the aforesaid and following objects without any pointed or rough projections 66 or surfaces at the adjacent disengaged or sepsible injury from any part of the fastening de-' vice.

9. To accomplish the aforesaid and following objects with a fastening device noiseless and substantially frictionless in operation and applicable to-the lightest and flimsiest fabrics or other materials through the use of stringers made of material folded diagonally or otherwise that would not be strong enough to sustain, support and withstand the weight and pressure of a fastener of the zipper type.

10. To accomplish the aforesaid and following objects by fastening members all but a. small part of which are concealed by the material forming the closure and in which the exposed parts may be ornamental or capable of ornamentation by the attachment of designs or other materials or precious or semi-precious stones or jewels of color or hue to harmonize with the material in the object to which the fastener is applied.

11. To accomplish the objects hereinbefore and hereinafter referred to with aid of flexible members controlling the spaced relation of the clips concealed behind the walls of the material of the object to which the fastener is applied or behind the stringers forming part of the fasten-- ing device.

12. A further object of my invention consists 1 in providing a substitute for buttons and buttonholes in garments, without the necessity of attaching stringers of a special material necessitated by fastening devices using interlocking metallic elements which must be clamped, stitched or otherwise attached to such special material.

13. A further object of my invention is to lessen the cost of production of garments or other objects having openings to be closed, and to avoid the unsightliness of. zippers or other fasteners comprising material in color, texture, substance, design, etc. different from the body of the object itself, by utilizing for the lips of the closure the identical material in the body of the object.

14. Another object of my invention is to provide a practically dust-proof and heat or cold retaining closure for garments, containers etc. through folding the lips of a closure around each other and maintaining them in that position by means of clips formed to close an opening by sliding over the lips of. the opening after the lips have become partially or wholely unfolded.

15. Another object of my invention is to make it possible for the lips of a closure to be formed in a single piece with the body of the object so that it is not necessary to join separate strips of material to the sides of an opening to form lips over which the clips may slide.

Explanatory of objects stated as Nos. 12 to 15 consider a front opening in a womans dress. It is customary to face the edges of. the opening by stitching strips of the same material as the body of the garment to the edges of the opening to provide reinforced portions on either side, one in which button holes are worked and one to which buttons are sewed.

Instead of all the labor required to do this plus the cost of the thread for reinforiing the edges of the button holes and the cost of the buttons, my invention makes it possible for an inexpensive cotton cord to be stitched longitudinally along each edge of the opening to form lips, the lips to be folded around each other and stitched to the body of the garment at one end of the opening, and one or more of my clips to he slipped over the folded lips at the other end of the opening. When these clips are bunched together at the end of the opening that is stitched down to the body of the garment the lips are free to separate to permit the garment to be donned. The clips are then moved into a position in which they are spaced apart and as they are moved they automatically fold the corded lips around each other.

This folding function of my clips will be most easiy understood by referring to that form of my invention in which there are just two cylindrical walls which encompass the corded or beaded" edges of the opposite lips of an opening to fold them around each other, the remainder of each lip continuing around the outside of one of the cylindrical walls.

The preceding statement of some of the objects of the present invention is intended merely to generally explain the same and not to limit it in any manner. The invention includes all modifications and embodiments coming within the scope of the claims. All adaptation of the generic or specific aspects of the invention are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims.

With the above stated and other objects in view as will be apparent as the specification proceeds my invention resides in the features of construction, in the unique relation of the members, in the relative proportioning and disposition thereof, and in their combination and arrangement, the essentials of which are herein described, are particularly pointed out in the appended claims, and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification and accompanying the same.

In these drawings several forms of the invention have been depicted as a part of this disclosure. In each of these forms the three walls are shown as practically parallel to each other and the openings in the cylindrical bends are approximately midway between the upper and lower walls of the cylindrical bends. But there is no intention of limiting the construction of the clips to these forms. Any other forms designed to accomplish the same purpose are intended to be covered by the claims. From the following description it will be seen that in all forms of the invention the walls of the opening to be closed or the stringers themselves are interfolded in the closing operation and that in each form of clip illustrated and described the three walls slide between the interfolded Walls of the object or of the stringers themselves.

Referring now to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an enlarged front view of a simple form of my invention showing the fastener in a closed position with the clips spaced apart.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front view of another form of my invention showing the stringer made of fabric folded spiralwise and with the fronts of the clips having an ornamental member attached thereto.

Figs. 1 and 2 show the fabric constituting the outside wall of the material forming what is ordinarily termed a stringer, and which in the present case constitutes the top stringer. The device as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is made up of a top and a bottom stringer, comprising together a pair of stringers. This pair of stringers is interlocked by upward and spaced movement of the clips but is left free to separate after a downward or bunched movement of the clips.

Figs. 3 to 7 show the upper portion of the fastener shown in Fig. 1 with successive layers of the interfolding stringers removed to expose the walls of the clip.

Figs. 8 and 9 show the upper portion of the fastener shown in Fig. 1 with the top stringer folded back to the right and the bottom stringer folded back to the left.

Figs. 10 to 14 show the construction, formation, and the interfolding steps in the closing of the fastener, by cross sections of the parts that interfold.

Fig. 15 is a cross section taken along the line l-l5' of Fig. 1.

Fig. 16 is a cross section taken along the line iii-l6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 17 is the same as Fig. 16 with the stringers removed to show the spaces between the walls of the clip before being slipped over the stringers.

Figs. 18 to 20 show three other forms of threewalled clips to be covered byv the appended claims.

In an embodiment of the invention as shown in the drawings, the fastener illustrated in Fig. 1 has the usual operating handle 8 suspended from the projection I in the extension 6 of the topmost clip la.-lb. Clips 2a-2b, 30-317, la-4b, and 50-517 are spaced apart over the length of the closure. Portions lb, 21), 3b, 4b, and 5b of these clips encompass the bead 9 of the stringer I8, while portions Ia, 2a, 3a; 4a, and 5a of these clips encompass the concealed bead H] which may be seen in Fig. 15.

The fastener illustrated in Fig. 2 has the same embodiments as Fig. 1 with the addition of ornamental members l3, l4, I5, l6, and H to the fronts of the clips and a stringer E9 in place of the stringer 48.

In Fig. 3, 2B is the portion of the wall of the clip laib with its convex bends 20a, 20b and 200 exposed when the stringer it with the front of the clip la-lb and the extension 6 are folded back to the right.

In Fig. 4, 24 is the portion of the wall of the clip la-lb with its concave bend 25c and its convex bend 24b exposed when the portion shown in Fig. 3 and the underlying portion of the stringer are eliminated.

In Fig. 5, 25 is the portion of the wall of the clip ia-lb with its concave bends 25b, 25c and 25d exposed when the portion shown in Fig. 4 and the underlying portion of the stringer are eliminated.

In Fig. 6, 26 is the next underlying stringer fully exposed when the portion of the clip shown in Fig. 5 is eliminated, the purpose being to show that this portion of the stringer extends from one extremity of the clip to the other.

In Fig. 7, 21a-and 21b are the concave portions of the clip I a-lb exposed when the portion 26 of the stringer shown in Fig. 6 is eliminated.

In Fig.8, 29 is the front portion of the stringer |8 shown in Fig. 1 folded back to the right while 28 is the back portion of this stringer positioned in front of the wall of the clip shown in Fig. 5.

In Fig. 9, 30 is the rearmost portion of stringers folded back to the left while 3| is the front portion of this stringer positioned in back of the wall of the clip shown in Fig. 3.

In Figs. 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14 are shown the steps in the interfolding of the beads 9, III, II and i2 to the closed position shown in the cross section illustrated in Figs. 15 and 16.

In Fig. 17 the successive steps in the formation of a clip of one form of my invention is indicated by the numerals as follows: an outwardly concave terminal portion 33, an inwardly concave semi-cylindrical bend 34 subtending an angle of less than 180 extending from the terminal portion 33 to a downwardly cylindrical bend 35 integral with bend 34 subtending an angle of less than 360", an inwardly semi-cylindrical bend 36 facing the semi-cylindrical bend 34, subtending an angle of less than 180, an extension 31 from the bend 36 to an upward cylindrical bend 38 subtending an angle of less than 360, an extension 39 to an upward cylindrical bend 40, sub

tending an angle of less than 360, an extension 4| to an inwardly concave semi-cylindrical bend 42, subtending an angle of less than 180, to a downward cylindrical bend 43 subtending an angle of less than 360, an inwardly concave cylindrical bend 44 subtending an angle of less than 180, an outwardly concave terminal portion 45, two integral holding members 32 and 32 projecting from bends 34 and 42, adapted to hold a flexible element connecting the clips, and means 45 and 46' projecting from bends 43 and 44 at the front of the clips for attaching an ornamental member such as I4, l5, l6, and H in Fig. 2.

In Fig. 18 the successive steps in the formation of a clip of another form of my invention is indicated by the numerals as followsi a cylindrical bend 41 of almost 360 at one side, opening upwardly, to an extension 31 folded back 39 and forth 4| upon itself to form three walls 31, 39 and 4| integrally connecting said cylindrical bend with another cylindrical bend 48 of almost 360 opening downwardly, none of said cylindrical bends or connecting walls contacting any other portion and being spaced sufficiently apart to permit flexible stringers to pass between said portions without pressure therefrom whereby a bead on the face of one of said flexible stringers similar to bead 9 in Fig. 10 is positioned within one of said cylindrical bends 41 and a bead on the face of the other of said flexible stringers similar to bead l2 in Fig. 11 is positioned within the other of said cylindrical bends 48, the side of first stringer passing between the two lower walls 31 and 39 of said closure member and the side of the second stringer passing between the two upper walls 39 and 4| of said closure member.

In Fig. 19 the successive steps in the formation of a clip of another form of my invention is indicated by the numerals as follows: a single piece of sheet metal or other material, one end at the beginning of a cylindrical bend 49 subtending an angle of less than 360, an extension 31 to a secnd cylindrical bend 59 subtending an angle of less than 360 in the opposite direction, an extension 39 to a third cylindrical bend within the first cylindrical bend 49 noncontacting therewith and opening in the same direction,'an extension to a fourth cylindrical bend 52 substantially encompassing the second cylindrical bend 50 noncontacting therewith, whereby two flexible elements beaded at their edges, with beads similar to bead in Fig. and bead l0 in Fig. 11 passing between'the walls of said non-flexible member are folded back upon themselves and interfolded with each other, the beaded edges passing with the inner cylindrical bends 5| and 50 and the remainder of said flexible elements passing between said extensions and between the wallsof the outer and inner cylindrical bends.

In Fig. 20 the successive steps in the formation of a clip of another form of my invention is indicated by the numerals as follows: a single piece of sheet metal or other material, one end at the beginning of a straight strip to a downward rectangular bend, an extension 53 to another rectangular bend, an extension 31 parallel with the first strip, an upward rectangular bend, an inward rectangular bend, an extension 39 parallel with extension 31, an upward rectangular bend, an extension 4| parallel with extensions 31 and 39, a downward rectangular bend, an extension 54 parallel with extension 53, a leftward rectangular bend and an extension parallel with said extensions 31, 39 and 4|. In thus describing-the successive formation of the clips shown in Figs. 1'7, 18, 19 and 20, the start was made at one end of the 'piece of sheet metal with a view to enabling anyone interested to follow the drawings most easily so that even a person unskilled in the art or steps, in the inexperienced in manufacturing procedure, could easily make any of these clips.

It will be observed. however, that to take the steps successively as above stated it is necessary to open the outer cylindrical or rectangular bends to permitv the insertion ofthe inner cylindrical or rectangular bends, or to form the inner cylindrical or rectangular bends outside of but alongside the outer cylindrical or rectangular bends and then insert them by pressure on the edge of the metal.

In actual manufacturing for quantity production on automatic machines the operation would probably start with the formation of the inner cylindrical or rectangular bends,- with the successive steps being the formation of the outside cylindrical or rectangular bends, finishing at both ends of the piece of metal. For example, in the formation of the form of clip shownin Fig. 19 the operation would start from the center wall 39, then the cylindrical bends and 5|, then the two outer walls parallel with 39, and finally the outer cylindrical bends 49 and 52.

It should also be understood that the walls may 5| might appear to continue into the upper half of the inner cylindrical bend 50, and the upper half of the inner cylindrical bend 5| might appear to continue into the upper half of the outer cylindrical bend 52, and the lower half of the inner cylindrical bend 50 might appear to continue into the lower half of the outer cylindrical bend 49. In fact, in such a formation, wall 39 might be entirely eliminated and the lower part of the bend of the inner cylindrical bend 5| might be made to actually curve into the upper part of the inner cylindrical bend 50 to entirely eliminate the wall 39.

This would make for a clip of a comparatively small size with a proportionate reduction in weight, making this form particularly suitable for closures in which the smallest possible size and the lightest possible weight would be especially appropriate for the kind of opening to be closed and the character of the material forming the object to which the device is applied.

While the term pair of stringers is used throughout this specification and. stringers are illustrated in the drawings, and although from the standpoint of present usage such stringers are tapes applied to the edges of an opening to form extensions over which the clips may slide, it is not necessary that these stringers be made of different material than that used in the body of the object in which the opening to be closed appears,

For example, in a womans dress stringers may be strips of the same material as the dress, stitched to the edges of an opening running f the way down from the front of the neck to the bottom of the hem in which case they would take the place of the "facings ordinarily employed to reinforce the edges of the opening, and would be termed lips.

Likewise, in a side or "placket opening in a womans dress strips of the same material could be stitched on, or the dress could be so designed that instead of such strips having to be stitched on, enough of the material of the dress could be left on, or, as stated inthe art, cut on, and these extensions would themselves form the lips over which the clips would slide.

It should be noted that although all the different forms of clips shown in the drawings have three walls, it is not intended to limit the device to clips having only three walls. The interlocking function of the clips is accomplished by the three walls.

In Figs, 18, 19 and 20 all numerals up to 46 indicate parts functioning similarly to the same numbered parts in the preceding figures. In Fig. 18, 41 and 48 are the left and right cylindrical walls of another form of my invention in which the tapes forming the stringers are beaded at their folds but not at their extreme edges.

In Fig. 19, 49 and 52 are the left and right outside cylindrical walls of another form of my invention in which 5| and 50 are the left and right inside cylindrical walls almost entirely surrounded by the outside cylindrical walls and in which the tapes are beaded only at their edges.

In Fig. 20, 53 and 54 are the left and right walls of another form of my invention in which no beading whatever is employed, either at the folds or at the edges of the tapes.

While I have shown and described what I consider to be the inost practical embodiments of my invention, I wish it to be understood that such changes and alterations as come within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims may be resorted to if desired, that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

For example, without changing the construction of the clips, the lips may be two-ply from the beads, especially if the material is very flimsy. Furthermore, for a side placket in a womans dress the inside plies may be joined behind the back wall of the clips so that even if the beaded edges become separated when the placket is opened said inside plies prevent the exposure of any of the undergarments or any part of the body of the wearer.

While the particular construction of stringers without any beads, or stringers embodying one or two beads has been utilized or assumed in the drawings, it is to be understood that the interfolding or interlocking arrangement of the stringers may be attained by stringers of any other type and the invention is not limited to the details of construction illustrated except as set forth in the claims when construed in the light of the prior art.

For example, another type of stringers is one in which the cords forming the beads are set into a single piece of silk, cotton or other fabric, the beads being formed parallel to each other and approximately six inches apart.

When the clips are bunched together there is no opening. When the clips are spaced apart the fabric is interfolded two-ply from each bead, the plies separating as they emerge from the folds of the clip, the outermost plies being stitched to the body of the garment, the innermost plies forming a covering for the innermost wall of the clip so that no part of the metal touches any undergarment, or if no undergarment is worn, no part of the metal touches the skin of the wearer.

This particular form of my invention is of special value in applications where it is not necessary for the lips of a closure to become separated to provide an opening, that is, applications where expansion of the lips is all that is necessary to permit the fabric to pass over a larger obstruction than would be possible without such expansion.

For instance, in a side placket in a womans dress, all that is necessary is enough expansion so that the waist may be sufficiently enlarged to slip over the shoulders of the wearer as the dress is donned. Heretofore to provide for this the side placket embodied a slit in the side of the dress. To close the slit, buttons and buttonholes, hooks and eyes, snaps or other fasteners were provided. But there was always a tendency for the edges of the slit to gap open between the fasteners and thereby expose the undergarments or the skin of the wearer. The present invention makes possible a side placket without a slit in the fabric. With no slit in the placket there is no possibility of exposure of the undergarments or of the skin of the wearer.

It will also be understood that changes and variations may be made in the parts and combinations of my device and I hereby reserve my right to any and all such changes as are within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A slide closure member of a single piece of sheet metal or other material, having four cylindrical bends substantially in line with each other, the two central cylindrical bends being almost surrounded by semi-cylindrical bends spaced sufficiently apart to permit a flexible element to pass between the walls of said member without pressure therefrom, providing means whereby the back wall of one of said flexible elements passes in between the folded walls of the other, and the front wall of the other passes in between the folded walls of the first.

2. A slide closure member of a single piece of sheet metal or other material, having two cylindrical bends substantially encompassing two smaller cylindrical bends, none of the walls of any of said bends contacting the walls of any other bend, nor any of the connecting walls contacting another wall, all being spaced sufiiciently apart to permit a flexible element to pass between said walls and cylindrical bends for the entire length of the same without pressure therefrom, providing means whereby one wall of one of said flexible elements lodges between the folded walls of the other, and one wall of the gtihier lodges between the folded walls of the 3. In a slide closure member, four cylindrical bends, two within the other two, all integrally joined to each other, each of the inner cylindrical bends being adapted to substantially encompass a bead, each of the outer cylindrical bends being spaced slightly away from the inner cylindrical walls, providing means whereby a flexible element with a beaded edge can pass between the walls of the outer and inner bends without substantial friction therefrom.

4. In a slide closure member, a cylindrical bend of almost 360 at one side, opening upwardly, to an extension folded back and forth upon itself to form three walls integrally connecting said cylindrical bend with another cylindrical bend of almost 360 opening downwardly, none of said cylindrical bends or connecting walls contacting any other portion and being spaced sufliciently apart to permit two flexible stringers to pass between said portions without pressure therefrom whereby a bead on the face of one of said flexible stringers is positioned within one of said cylindrical bends, and a head on the face of the other of said flexible stringers is positioned within the other of said cylindrical bends, the side of the first stringer passing betweenthetwo lower walls of said closure member and the side of the second stringer passing between the two upper walls of said closure member.

5. A non-flexible slide closure member of a single piece of sheet metal or other material, one end'at the beginning of a cylindrical bend subtending an angle of less than 360, an extension to a second cylindrical bend subtending an angle of less than 360 in the opposite direction, an extension to a third cylindrical bend within the first cylindrical bend noncontacting therewith and opening in the same direction, an extension to a fourth cylindrical bend substantially encompassing the second cylindrical bend noncontacting therewith, whereby two flexible elements beaded at their edges, passing between the walls of said non-flexible member are folded back upon themselves and interfolded with each other, the beaded edges passing within the inner cylindrical bends and the remainder of said flexible elements passing between said extensions and between the walls of the outer and inner cylindrical bends.

6. A clip for closing an opening, said clip comprising four arcuate portions, two on each side, one of eachgroup of two being disposed within the other, all opening toward the center of the clip, adaptable for slidable movement along beads in lips at either side of said opening, said lips being capable of being interfolded and interlocked with each other, said clipsincluding three walls intermediate the cylindrical bends on each I side, forming common connections for the arcuspreading apart of a plurality of said clips over the length of theclosure.

7. In a slide closure provided with a pair of stringers folding back upon themselves in opposite directions into parallel walls, one wall of each being capable of passing between the folded walls of the other, each of said stringers being provided with a bead on the face and edge thereof, a plurality of clips each slidable on the beads and each having two cylindrical bends encompassing said beads to automatically arrange said stringers in an overlapping and interlocking parallel position on the movement of said members along said. beads and to maintain said beads in such overlapping and interlocking position.

8. In combination with two parallel longitudinal beads on either side of an opening in a garment or other article, said sides being adapted to interlap to form a seal therealong, one side being folded to encompass the other side, a closure containing, a plurality of clips slidably mounted over said beads, each of said clips comprising a single piece of sheet metal or other material having four cylindrical bends forming four channels slidably engageable with said beads whereby the bead nearer the edge of the opening on either side is brought in juxtaposition with the bead farther from the opening on the other side, thereby causing the material on one side of the opening to interfold alternately with the material on-the other side thereof, together with flexible means for retaining said clips in spaced relation with each other when said opening is closed and permitting the bunching of said clips at one end of said closure when the remainder of said closure is opeli.

9. A slide member for a closure comprising a single piece of sheet metal or other material having a cylindrical ,bend near one end part thereof, a semi-cylindrical bend contiguous to the first mentioned cylindrical bend, with extensions, the top extension terminating in an outwardly concave portion adjoining the semicylindrical bend, the lower extension continuing to a second cylindrical bend and returning parallel with itself to the semi-cylindrical bend and having another cylindrical bend within the circumference of said semi-cylindrical bends, continuing again parallel with itself to the second cylindrical bend, curving around it'in another semi-cylindrical bend and extending beyond in.

another cylindrical bend and continuing in another semi-cylindrical bend around the outer circumference of the second cylindrical bend, an extension parallel with itself to the opposite semi-cylindrical bend, terminating there in a concave portion folded back upon itself, and a pull member for sliding said slide member along beads engaged by said cylindrical bends, providing means whereby two strips of flexible material are made to interlap, with a single thickness of each passing between a double thickness of the other.

10. A slide closure member of a single piece of material, one end at the beginning of a straight strip toa downward rectangular bend, an extension to a rightward rectangular bend, an extension parallel with the first strip to an upward rectangular bend to a leftward rectangular bend,

an extension parallel with the first strip to an upward rectangular bend to a rightward rectangular bend, an extension parallel with the first strip to a downward rectangular bend, an extension parallel with the first extension, a leftward rectangular bend and an extension parallel with said three parallel extensions.

11. A separable fastener comprising a pair of stringers, each folded back upon itself, each of said stringers being provided with a bead on the edge thereof, the back wall of the top stringer being set to pass in between the front and back walls of the bottom stringer, and the front wall of the bottom stringer being set to pass in between the walls of the top stringer, and a plurality of clips formed to slide over said stringers and said beads to guide said stringers into said interfolding position, each of said clips having two cylindrical bends substantially encompassing said beads.

12. A separable fastener comprising a pair of stringers, each folded back upon itself, each having a beaded edge and a beaded face, a plurality of clips having four cylindrical bends spaced to slide over said beads to guide said stringers into an interfolded position with the back wall of the top stringer passing between the front and back walls of the bottom stringer, and the front wall of the bottom stringer passing between the front and back walls of the top stringer, the beads on the edges of said stringers forming central guides, and the beads on their faces forming outer guides for said clips.

13. In a slide fastener, a pair of stringers, said stringers being adapted to be united and separated, each of said stringers being provided with a bead on the edge thereof, a plurality of clips slidably carried by said stringers and said beads, each of said clips having three substantially parallel walls spaced sufiiciently apart to permit said clips to slide easily over said stringers and each having two cylindrical bends encompassing said beads to automatically arrange said stringers in an overlapping and interlocking parallel position on the movement of said members along said stringers and said beads, and to maintain said stringers in such overlapping and interlocking position providing means whereby the back wall of the top stringer is made to pass in between the folded walls of the bottom stringer, and the front wall of the bottom stringer is made to pass in between the folded walls of the top stringer.

14. In a closure, a pair of stringers each folded back upon itself, each of said stringers being provided with a bead on theedge thereof, a plurality of sliding members eachhaving two cylindrical,

- interengaging bends adapted to substantially encompass said beads to automatically arrange said stringers in an overlapping, interlocking and substantially parallel position on the movement of said members along said beads and to maintain said beads in such overlapping, interlocking and substantially parallel position, providing means whereby the back wall of the top stringer passes in between the folded walls of the bottom stringer, and the front wall of the bottom stringer passes in between the folded walls of the top stringer.

15. A closure in a dress or object, comprising an opening in the fabric, the sides of the opening being extended by the addition of strips of fabric folded back upon themselves in opposite directions, interlapped, and interlocked by one or more clips formed of single pieces of sheet metal folded back and forth upon themselves, to slidably engage said interlapped strips of fabric, each of said strips of fabric being provided with a bead on the edge thereof, each of said clips being slidable on said beads and each having two cylindrical bends encompassing said beads to automatically arrange said strips of fabric in an overlapping, interlocking and substantially parallel position on the movement of said clips along said strips and said beads, and to maintain said strips and said beads in such overlapping, interlocking and substantially parallel position, whereby approximately one half of the first of said strips is longitudinally positioned between the folded walls of the second, and approximately one half of the second of said strips is longitudinally positioned between the folded walls of the first.

16. A closure comprising four layers of flexible material divided into two sections of two layers each interfolding with each other, in combination with a fastening member comprising a single piece of sheet metal folded back and forth upon itself, and forming three parallel walls capable of sliding between said four layers of flexible material causing one layer of one section to become-positioned between two layers of the other section, and vice versa.

17. A slide closure member folded on itself intermediate its ends to provide four cylindrical bends adapted to encompass four heads, the two central cylindrical bends being smaller than the two external cylindrical bends, and the smaller cylindrical bends being almost completely encompassed by four semi-cylindrical bends, all of the folds and bends being integral with each other but noncontacting, the space between said folds and bends being sufiicient to permit passage of two separate strips of flexible material each containing two beads, said strips being held in an overlapping, interfolding and interlocking position wherein the consecutive layers of said flexible material alternate from one strip to the other, one wall of each of said strips passing between both walls of the other.

18. In a closure in a garment or other object, four beads parallel with each other and with the length of the opening, the beads being formed in the material at either side of the opening, said material with said beads being folded alternately one within the other, and a fastening device comprising a series of folded clip members, slidable on the beads, each of said members having four cylindrical bends encompassing said beads to automatically arrange said material in an overlapping, interlocking and substantially parallel positionon the movement of said clips along said material and said beads, and to maintain said material in such overlapping, interlocking and substantially parallel position, said clip members being slidably supported on all four said beads when in open position and movable lengthwise with said opening to cause the material at either side of the opening to be brought into interfolded relation wherein a portion of the material at each side passes in between the folds of the material of the other side.

19. In a garment or other object having an opening therein, the edges of which opening may be spread apart, and to which edges are attached folding lips of flexible material, one layer of each of said lips being capable of passing between two layers of the other lip, each of said lips containing a pair of parallel beads longitudinal of said opening, a plurality of three-walled clips with four cylindrical bends slidably mounted on all of said four beads and embracingly contacting said beads, said clips being adapted to be moved to a bunched position one against the other at one end of the opening with portions of flexible elements between said clips disposed in loop formation at either side of said clips.

20. A closure comprising a pair of stringers for attachment respectively to the two sides of an opening in a garment or other article, each of said stringers having a bead on one edge, another bead equidistantly spaced longitudinally therewith on its face,each of said stringers bending back upon itself and interfolding each with the other, adjacent and parallel to the beads on their respective faces, the bead on the edge of each of said stringers passing in between the folds of the other stringer, a plurality of clips having four cylindrical channels spaced to slidably engage with said beads, the openings in all of said channels facing the center, the two inner channels being in sliding engagement with the beads on the faces of said stringers, flexible means whereby said clips are held inspaced relation to each other, and an operating handle attached to the topmost clip and adapted to manipulate said clips, whereby the portions of both stringers between the beads on the edges and the beads on their faces are brought into an overlapping and interfolding position closely adjacent each other to close the opening, and the portions of both stringers beyond the beads on their faces are bent around the outside 01' the two cylinders forming the two inner channels, thereby practically encircling and embracing the two inner beads in the spaces between the individual clips, the interfolding parts being free to separate when the clips are bunched together at one end of the opening.

21. In a slide closure member of. a single piece of material, an outwardly concave terminal portion, a semi-cylindrical bend subtending an angle of less than 180 extending from and integral with the terminal portion, a cylindrical bend subtending an angle of less than 360, a second semi-cylindrical bend facing the first cylindrical bend and subtending an angle of less than 180", an extension to a second cylindrical bend subtending an angle of less than 360 integral with the extension, an extension to a third cylindrical bend subtending an angle of less than 360 integral with the extension and substantially surrounded by but not contacting the two semicylindricai bends, an extension to a third semicylindrical bend subtending an angle of less than 180 integral with the extension and partly surrounding the second cylindrical bend, a fourth cylindrical bend subtending an angle of less than 360, a fourth semi-cylindrical bend subtending an angle of less than 180 and partly surrounding but not contacting the second cylindrical bend, an outwardly concave terminal portion, two integral holding members adapted to hold a flexible element designed to space said members equidistantly when spread apart, the whole forming a device by which two separate strips of cloth or other flexible material are made to overlap each other, one thickness of each passing between two thicknesses of the other.

OSCAR A. BERMAN. 

